MOSCOW. Feb 25 (Interfax) - The Russian Investigative Committee's branch in Yakutsk has opened a criminal case against shaman Alexander Gabyshev on counts of violence against a police officer, Pravozashchita Otkrytki coordinator Alexei Pryanishnikov said.
"In Yakutsk, the Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case under Article 318 of the Criminal Code (violence against a person in authority) in regard to shaman Alexander Gabyshev," Pryanishnikov told Interfax.
It is not exactly clear how Gabyshev used violence against an officer, Pryanishnikov said, adding that the case referred to January 28 when the police came to Gabyshev's home to bring him to the Yakutsk psychiatric hospital.
Gabyshev said in early 2021 that his new "march to Moscow" would begin in March.
Gabyshev began an 8,000-kilometer journey to Moscow in March 2019, in order to "drive away" the president and "restore the people's power." The trek was meant to last two years.
In the fall of 2019, a criminal case based on public calls for extremism was opened against Gabyshev. He was detained several times and eventually ended his journey.
A state examination found Gabyshev insane. On May 12, 2020, he was committed to a psychiatric hospital. He stayed there until July 22.